Benedictus - In Memoriam

Last weekend in my #AdventRythmsOfGrace series on various social platforms I  referred back to "The Song of an Old Man" on this blog, based on Zechariah's song, known by many as the Benedictus, in Luke 1: 68-79. That, and the appearance of the preceding passage about Zechariah's voice being returned after confirming the name of his son John, reminded me of a time, around 15 years ago or more at this time of year, when I was preaching on that passage at a baptism in Ballybeen. Father Gerry Reynolds and his Unity Pilgrims had turned up for their first visit (as previously arranged - although I had forgotten) to a church packed with other visitors, there to support the child being baptised, many of whom would have been from a somewhat militant loyalist background. Having baptised the child "William", as was my custom I took him around the congregation while they sang a song of blessing... But for Gerry, coming from the Catholic tradition, a song of blessing was not enough, and as I moved down the aisle he rose and came to meet us... blessing the child with the sign of the cross on his forehead. 

I had known Gerry since I had moved to Springfield Road Methodist/Forthsping in the summer of 1999, and he immediately took me and my young family under his wing, especially after someone tried to burn our church down 3 days after I arrived. But this, and many other examples of Gerry blithely going where others wouldn't dare, in order to bring blessing to others, will long live in my memory. He is just over 9 years dead, but his influence lives on in the work of Clonard, their fellowship with Fitzroy Presbyterian, arguably the 4 Corners Festival and has blessed and inspired many others including myself. If you want to learn more about him seek out Gladys Ganiels' book "Unity Pilgrim"... and that (together with the story above) might go some way to explain some of the allusions in the following long-delayed tribute, based very loosely on the Song of Zechariah.

Blessed be the Lord,

The God of Israel,

And of Ireland,

And other places

Accustomed to conflict.

Blessed be the Lord

Who sent you to us.

A man with his feet

Planted firmly in the clouds,

Who prayerfully watched

Over his adopted city,

which for too long had lived

under the shadow of death,

Waiting for the sun to rise,

Across dividing walls,

Before becoming the answer

To his own prayers:

Quietly visiting victims,

With other self-effacing 

Bridgebuilders;

Reconciling enemies;

A smiling prophet

Leading fellow pilgrims,

To worship in new ways,

with new people,

In different places,

Longing for the day

When we can all share

At the one table;

Blessing young and old,

From all backgrounds

Along the way,

Whilst remaining

Uncompromisingly,

Uniquely yourself.

Preparing the way for others

To walk, Wenceslas-like,

In his slow, but steady,

saintly footsteps,

into the path of peacemaking.

Selah